U.S. patent application number 10/368802 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-13 for method and device for analyzing respiratory sounds in horses.
Invention is credited to Lambert, David H..
Application Number | 20030212348 10/368802 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29407717 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030212348 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lambert, David H. |
November 13, 2003 |
Method and device for analyzing respiratory sounds in horses
Abstract
The invention provides a device and a method for recording
respiratory sounds in exercising horses thereby enabling the user
identify upper airway abnormalities and/or evaluate athletic
potential by, e.g., measuring expiratory and/or inspiratory times
during exercise under field and/or actual racing conditions. In
particular, the invention provides a respiratory monitoring system
or device in which a transducer or microphone is placed in direct
contact with the skin of the subject animal overlying the skull,
e.g., the frontal sinus or nasal turbinates and thereby enable
recording and analysis of upper airway respiratory sound from the
exercising animal. In one embodiment, the invention provides a
device wherein the transducer or microphone is positioned or
embedded within a gel pad or other suitable medium and the device
placed in direct contact with the skin of the animal overlying,
e.g., the skull, sinus or nasal turbinates of the horse The device
of the invention provides an acoustic monitoring system capable of
direct attachment to the head of a racing horse which produces an
output signal that is not diluted, attenuated or otherwise
corrupted by noises such as wind, hoof beats and/or treadmill
noises.
Inventors: |
Lambert, David H.;
(Lexington, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Family ID: |
29407717 |
Appl. No.: |
10/368802 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10368802 |
Feb 19, 2003 |
|
|
|
09927806 |
Aug 10, 2001 |
|
|
|
6602209 |
|
|
|
|
60224490 |
Aug 11, 2000 |
|
|
|
60357769 |
Feb 19, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/586 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/6814 20130101;
A01K 29/005 20130101; A61B 7/003 20130101; A01K 29/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/586 |
International
Class: |
A61B 007/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for detecting an upper respiratory condition or for
predicting the performance potential of a horse exercising under
field conditions comprising: (A) placing a device comprised of at
least one sound transducer at a preselected location on the head of
the subject horse; (B) exercising the subject horse; (C) recording
the sounds of breathing produced thereby; and (D) analyzing the
recorded sound.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the field condition is a
race.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound transducer is a
microphone.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected location is on
the forehead of the horse.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein a recording surface of the
microphone is in direct contact with the horse's skin overlying the
skull.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the preselected location is
directly over the frontal sinus or over the nasal turbinates of the
horse.
7. A device for recording upper airway sounds in a horse exercising
under field conditions comprising: (A) a transducer suitable for
detection of upper airway sound; (B) means for attaching the
transducer to the head of a horse at a preselected location; and
(C) recording means for recording the detected upper airway
sound.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the transducer is a
microphone.
9. The device of claim 7, wherein the transducer is embedded in a
suitable encasing material.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the suitable casing material is
selected from the group consisting of: rubber, silicone, latex,
polyurethane, plastic; a polymer and a gel.
11. The device of claim 7, wherein the preselected location is on
the forehead of the horse.
12. The device of claim 7, wherein the preselected location is on
the forehead of the horse and a recording surface of the transducer
is in held direct contact with the skin of the horse directly
overlying the skull, the frontal sinus or the nasal turbinate of
the horse.
13. The device of claim 7, wherein the attaching means is a
blinkers-type hood having a pouch thereon for attaching the
transducer to the head of a horse at the preselected location.
14. The device of claim 9, wherein the suitable casing material
forms a rimmed edge or shoulder around the recording surface of the
transducer thereby creating a cavity between the head of the horse
and a recording surface of the transducer when the device is placed
at the preselected location on the horse's head.
15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a membrane covering
the cavity created by the rimmed edge or shoulder.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the cavity contains a suitable
fluid.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein the suitable fluid is selected
from the group consisting of a gel, air, and water.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/927,806 filed Aug. 10, 2001 which claims
the benefit of priority in U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.:
60/224,490, filed on Aug. 11, 2000 AND U.S. Provisional Application
Serial No. 60/357,769 filed on Feb. 19, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the performance
and athletic potential of horses. In particular, the present
invention relates to an improved device and method for analysis of
respiratory sounds produced by an exercising horse. The present
invention also relates to an improved device and method to diagnose
upper airway pathology in exercising horses, especially racing
horses. Most particularly, the present invention relates to an
improved device and method of diagnosing a pathological upper
airway condition and/or to a method of predicting racing
performance by analysis of recorded respiratory sound in galloping
or racing thoroughbred racehorses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the late 1970's D. P. Attenburrow et al. developed a
device for recording sound over the trachea which included a
radiostethoscope and a spectrogram analysis of inspiratory and
expiratory sounds of horses at rest and during exercise (See, e.g.,
Attenburrow, D. P., "The Development of a Radio-Stethoscope for use
in the Horse at Rest and During Exercise", Equine Vet J. (1978),
10, (1), 14-17; Attenburrow, D. P., "Respiratory Sounds Recorded
From Normal Horses at Exercise" Equine Vet J. (1978), 10, (3),
176-179; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,584 to Attenburrow). Later,
however, it was found that sounds recorded over the trachea do not
necessarily directly relate to the functionally significant
respiratory sounds of the exercising horse, see, e.g., Derksen et
al. "Spectrogram Analysis of Respiratory Sounds in Exercising
Horses", AAEP Proceedings, Vol. 45, pp.314-15 (1999) (See also,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,037 to Derksen.) and the U.S. Patent
Publication No.: 2002/0156391 A1 to Derksen et al.
[0004] In the '037 patent, Derksen et al. advocate the use of a
large and cumbersome microphone positioned in front of the horses
nostrils and a recording device which can be placed alongside a
horse exercising on a treadmill to pick up normal as well as
abnormal respiratory sounds and assess pathology of the upper
airway based upon the sound patterns produced during exercise,
e.g., for detection of laryngeal hemiplegia and dorsal displacement
of the soft palate. Derksen's analytical systems, however, are
limited in that they are difficult to use on a galloping horse
under field conditions, e.g., on a horse with a rider (e.g.,
breezing or working) on a training track and cannot be used during
an actual race or competition event. In addition, the Derksen
device, by design, picks up respiratory sounds at close proximity
to the nostrils of the horse which, in the galloping horse, can
also include extraneous and unwanted sounds, e.g., percussion noise
of the hoofs contacting the training surface and wind noise.
[0005] As with the Derksen device, the Attenburrow et al.
radiostethoscope may be limited in that it cannot conveniently be
used under field or actual racing conditions and, moreover, may not
be capable of detection of subtle changes in upper airway
respiratory sound induced by subclinical pathological change. Thus,
there still exists a need in the art for a device and method which
enables analysis of such parameters in the equine athlete under
field and/or racing conditions.
[0006] Once an individual race horse prospect has been selected by
its owner and the training and racing process begins, some
individual horses will not perform up to their "estimated" or
"anticipated" potential. Oftentimes, subtle pathological changes or
even slight developmental abnormalities (which may be subclinical
or non-apparent to the naked eye) are present in the subject
horse's upper airway and can be responsible, at least in part, for
the animal's sub-par performance at a particular racing level.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for a device suitable for
detection of these subtle pathological changes in the upper airway
which can be attached directly to the horse and thereby enable
recording and analysis of respiratory sounds generated at racing
speeds, e.g., during an actual race.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No.: 5,853,005 to Scanlon discloses a sound and
movement monitor comprised of a transducer with a fluid filled pad
held in close contact against a sound or movement source for
monitoring acoustic signals transferred into the fluid. The use of
a fluid filled medium and transducer, however, presents problems
with vibrational movement, e.g., hoof beat percussion from the
intensely exercising animal. Thus, there still exists a need in the
art for a device which can be attached directly to the horse which
enables accurate detection of and analysis of respiratory sounds in
the equine athlete exercising under field conditions that does not
suffer from these shortcomings.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of this invention to provide an improved
device and method for facilitating the recording of respiratory
sounds in exercising horses.
[0009] It is a further object of the invention to provide a method
for recording respiratory sounds in exercising horses to identify
upper airway abnormalities and/or evaluate athletic potential by,
e.g., measuring expiratory and/or inspiratory times during
exercise.
[0010] A more specific objective of the present invention is to
provide a respiratory monitoring system in which a transducer or
microphone may be placed in direct contact with the skin of the
animal overlying the skull, sinus or nasal turbinate and thereby
enable recording and analysis of upper airway respiratory sound
from the exercising animal.
[0011] An additional object of the invention is to provide a device
wherein the transducer or microphone is positioned or embedded
within a gel pad or other suitable medium and the device placed in
direct contact with the skin of the animal overlying, e.g., the
skull, sinus or nasal turbinates of the horse.
[0012] It is another object of this invention to provide a device
and monitoring system having multiple transducers for providing a
more accurate reading of upper respiratory sounds and thereby a
means to identify the presence of and locality of an upper
respiratory abnormality.
[0013] It is also an object of the present invention to provide an
acoustic monitoring system which produces an output signal that is
not diluted, attenuated or otherwise corrupted by noises such as
wind, hoof beats and or treadmill noises.
[0014] It is also an object of the present invention to provide an
acoustic monitoring system comprised of a device capable of direct
attachment to the head of a racing horse which produces an output
signal that is not diluted, attenuated or otherwise corrupted by
noises such as wind, hoof beats and/or treadmill noises.
[0015] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method
for relating the respiratory constraints of an individual horse as
a predictor of athletic performance of the horse.
[0016] Still another object of this invention is to provide a
device and a method for analysis of respiratory sounds that can be
used while the horse is being exercised under natural conditions
e.g. galloping on a training track or field.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention provides a device and a method for
recording respiratory sounds in exercising horses thereby enabling
the user identify upper airway abnormalities and/or evaluate
athletic potential by, e.g., measuring expiratory and/or
inspiratory times during exercise.
[0018] In particular, the present invention provides a respiratory
monitoring system or device in which a transducer or microphone is
placed in direct contact with the skin of the subject animal
overlying the skull, sinus or nasal turbinate and thereby enable
recording and analysis of upper airway respiratory sound from the
exercising animal. In one embodiment, the invention provides a
device wherein the transducer or microphone is positioned or
embedded within a gel pad or other suitable medium and the device
placed in direct contact with the skin of the animal overlying,
e.g., the skull, sinus or nasal turbinates of the horse The device
of the invention provides an acoustic monitoring system capable of
direct attachment to the head of a racing horse which produces an
output signal that is not diluted, attenuated or otherwise
corrupted by noises such as wind, hoof beats and/or treadmill
noises.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
invention showing a phantom line of the recording microphone
contained within a suitable casing material.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the recording microphone of the
invention encased in a polyurethane rubber encasing material.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of the recording microphone of the
invention encased in a polyurethane rubber encasing material.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the recording microphone of
the invention encased in a polyurethane rubber encasing material.
The recording surface of the microphone is shown exposed within the
rimmed edge of polyurethane encasing material.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of one embodiment of the
invention showing the recording microphone encased in a
polyurethane rubber encasing material and with a membrane covering
the surface of the cavity created by the rimmed edge of the
polyurethane encasing material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Throughout the application, various references and patents
are cited, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
[0025] Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of
the invention will be set forth in part in the description that
follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the
art upon examination of the foregoing or may be learned with the
practice of the invention.
[0026] When a horse gallops or runs, it normally breaths in a
rhythm of inhalation and exhalation which is in relation to the
horse's stride. The normal galloping horse will usually take one
breath with each full stride, exhaling or breathing out only when
its front legs are in contact with the ground. The force generated
when the front legs strike the ground aids in compressing the upper
abdomen and thereby assisting in evacuating (expiring or exhaling)
air from the lungs.
[0027] Upper airway obstructions are common and often associated
with abnormal respiratory noise and/or decreased athletic
performance in the horse/animal. Respiratory sounds in horses that
are exercising are difficult to evaluate because respiratory sounds
can be obscured by noises such as hoof beats, wind noise or sounds
from equipment such as a treadmill on which the horse is
exercising. Moreover, if the upper airway pathology is
"subclinical" (not discernable to the naked eye, e.g., during an
endoscopic examination of the upper airway), the abnormal
respiratory sounds produced may likewise be non-discernable to the
unaided ear.
[0028] In addition, it has been found that the placement of the
microphone influences the sound recordings obtained of the
respiration in the animal. Prior to the instant invention, there
has been no system that accurately, economically and conveniently
monitors respiratory sounds, e.g., sounds produced from an upper
airway obstruction in horses exercising under field or actual
racing conditions.
[0029] Set forth in greater detail below are specific details
related to an improved device and method for recording, monitoring
and/or analyzing respiratory sounds in exercising horses and for
predicting athletic performance in such an animal. The examples set
forth herein are in no way intended to limit the scope of the
invention. Those of skill in the art will realize that, given the
teachings provided herein, many variations of the methods are
possible that will fall within the scope of the general concept
that it is now possible to predict athletic potential by analysis
of respiratory sounds and identification of upper airway
abnormalities and/or functional limitations of a subject equine's
upper airway.
[0030] Thus, the present invention provides a device and a method
for recording and analyzing upper airway sounds generated during
exercise and for identification of abnormalities or pathological
change in an animal, e.g., a dog or a horse. The present invention
also provides a device and a method for recording and analyzing
upper airway sounds generated during exercise and for measuring
expiratory and/or inspiratory times during exercise and relating
such information to analyze the animal's upper respiratory sounds
and potential to athletically excel. While the methods and general
concepts disclosed herein are particularly useful for predicting
athletic performance in horses, one of ordinary skill in the art
can appreciate that the methods set forth herein can be utilized to
predict athletic performance on any animal including, but not
limited to horses or dogs.
[0031] One presently preferred embodiment discloses a method for
predicting the athletic performance of a horse by determining the
condition and/or functional limitations of the upper airway, e.g.,
function of the larynx, pharynx, arytenoid cartilages, epiglottis
and/or the airflow limitations of the upper airway. This can be
accomplished in a variety of ways, but is most accurately done by
actually measuring the respiratory sounds of the upper airway of
the horse using one or more transducers (e.g., microphones) that
are directly applied to the surface of the skin overlying e.g., the
frontal sinuses or the skull (e.g., the forehead) of the horse.
[0032] Briefly, one embodiment of the invention provides a method
for determining upper respiratory abnormalities of the exercising
animal under field conditions comprising: placing a device
comprised of one or more specially adapted microphone(s) on the
subject horse at a predetermined location thereon for registering
the sounds of breathing (inspiration and expiration) during
exercise under field conditions; exercising (galloping) the subject
horse; recording the sounds of breathing produced thereby and
analyzing the recorded sound. In one embodiment, the expiration and
inspiration by the horse creates a generation of analog signals
from the transducers that are conditioned and digitized by the
signal processing circuitry and stored by the computer. These
recorded sounds can then be analyzed using, e.g., spectrogram
software as set forth in Derksen et al. or by other methods known
in the art, e.g., via commercially available software which can
display the recorded sounds graphically on a computer such that
sounds of inspiration can be distinguished from expiration etc. In
addition, the horse's speed (velocity) can be timed while the sound
data is being recorded and relationships established between
breathing times and upper respiratory abnormalities.
[0033] In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the
method of diagnosing upper respiratory abnormalities by analysis of
respiratory sounds and upper respiratory air flow in an animal
comprises a sound transducer applied to the skin overlying the
skull or adjacent to a sinus or over the nasal turbinates of the
horse. The microphone may be directly applied or attached to the
skin or preferably is encased in a suitable medium such as rubber,
latex or a suitable gel pad consisting with the microphone embedded
therein and adapted to conform to the skull of the horse or to be
adapted to fit on the head of a horse in the embodiment of a hood
(blinkers type apparatus) or an adaptation thereof. It is also
contemplated that the microphone can be mounted to a caverson, a
halter or halter-type apparatus or a bridle and the like.
[0034] Briefly, one preferred method of the invention comprises
positioning a microphone at a desired location and in direct
contact on the head of the horse which is capable of picking up
sound emitted from the horse as he/she breathes during exercise.
The microphone can be any of a variety of small portable
microphones that are commercially available. For example, one
presently preferred microphone is the ATR-35s Lavalier microphone
manufactured by audio-technia.RTM. of Stow, Ohio. This particular
microphone is omnidirectional with an available frequency range of
about 50-18,000 Hz, sensitivity of about -54 dBm.+-.3 dB, 1 kHz at
1 Pa, and with an impedance of 1000 ohms.+-.30%. However, it is
contemplated that a unidirectional microphone can also be utilized.
The microphone may be directly attached to the skin of the subject
animal but more preferably is embedded within a suitable material
such as rubber, latex plasctic or the like as set forth more fully
below. The microphone is then positioned on the head of the horse
such that the embedding material is in direct contact with the skin
of the horse at the desired location.
[0035] The microphone can be attached to a portable recording
device, e.g., a portable (micro) cassette recorder or digital
recorder, and the recorder is, in turn, mounted on the horse or the
rider as desired. Examples of presently preferred recording devices
include the Sony.RTM. standard VOR micro cassette recorder, Model
M-950 with detachable speaker and the Sony.RTM. Digital
"MD"(MiniDisc) Model MZ-R70 Walkman.RTM.. The mini disc, for
example, has a frequency response from about 20 to about 20,000
Hz.+-.3 dB. Alternatively, the recording signal from the microphone
can be transmitted to the recording device via telemetry utilizing
telemetric means known in the art.
[0036] One embodiment of the invention provides a device for
attaching the recording device and microphone to the subject horse.
In the presently preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the device
100 is a lightweight hood or garment (similar to a traditional
"blinkers" device commonly used in horse racing) which placed on
the subject horses head (See, e.g., applicant's co-pending
application published as International Publication Number WO
02/13938 A2). The device is made to fit snugly over the face
(forehead and bridge of the nose) having a band of material
extending from the bridge of the nose dorsally over the poll (just
behind the ears) with holes cut out for the ears and eyes. The
garment wraps around the face and head and is attached via e.g., a
hook and loop type fastener (e.g., VELCRO.TM.) at the throat latch.
A first pouch or pocket is configured to contain the microphone
such that the recording surface of the microphone is urged toward
and held in direct contact with the horses skin at a desired
location, e.g., against the skull of the horse on the midline
(forehead), over the frontal sinus, or over the nasal turbinates
and the like.
[0037] A second pouch or closeable pocket can be locate, e.g., on
the front of the garment for removable placement of the recording
device. It is presently desired that the pouch be located on the
midline of the horse's forehead between and slightly anterior or
dorsal to the horse's eyes so as not to interfere with the field of
vision while the horse is exercising. Suitable materials for the
hood or garment of the invention include, but are not limited to
nylon, cloth or other suitable lightweight fabrics. Alternatively,
a single pouch 20 can be utilized to house both the microphone and
the portable recording device such as is shown in FIG. 6.
[0038] The hood, with the recording device and microphone attached,
is placed on the subject horse's head and the horse is then asked
to perform a desired exercise routine. Generally the horse is
trotted or jogged a sufficient distance as a warm up before it is
asked to gallop or breeze. A recording is made of the respiratory
sounds emitted during the exercise event and preserved for
analysis. Likewise, the subject animal's speed is recorded and, if
desired, a video tape of the exercise event is made which can later
be correlated with the sound recording and velocity in calculating
stance time and/or stance distances, expiratory times (ET) and
maximum comfortable velocity (MCV) e.g., as set forth in
applicant's co-pending application published as International
Publication Number WO 02/13938 A2.
[0039] Specially adapted computer software is utilized for analysis
of the recording. In a presently preferred embodiment,
"Spectrogram" software (available from R. S. Horne at, e.g.,
www.monumental.com/rshorne/gram.htm- l) or the spectrogram software
from available DolphinEAR, United Kingdom (e.g., at
www.dolphinear.com) is utilized for the analysis. This program
provides a visual graph of the recorded sound which plots frequency
range against time. In this spectrogram program, digital audio
recordings (.WAV format) can be analyzed to produce a plot of
frequency versus time, with amplitude represented by a variable
color scale and can be useful for revealing hidden or subclinical
frequency structure of audio signals and for identification and
classification of particular sounds emitted from the upper airway
during the exercise event.
[0040] The typical display band of frequencies ranges from about
zero Hz to about 6,000 Hz. Exhalation sounds generally have higher
amplitude in the lower frequency ranges e.g., from less than about
2 kHz and especially less than about 1 kHz. Inspiratory sounds
typically extend into the higher frequency ranges e.g., above about
2 kHz up to about 6 kHz. Using the presently preferred Spectrogram
software, the recorded sound is analyzed and inspiratory and
expiratory times are carefully measured and upper airway sounds are
analyzed.
[0041] In another preferred embodiment the transducers or
microphones of the invention can consist of consist of, for
example, the Emkay BL 1785, Emkay WP Series Microphone, Emkay MR-BJ
Series Microphone available from Emkay products at, e.g.,
www.emkayproducts.com. It can be appreciated that other microphones
or transducers are suitable for use in the device and methods set
forth herein including e.g., the Parker Aquaflex Ultrasound Gel Pad
from Parker Laboratories at, e.g., www.parkerlabs.com.
[0042] The presently preferred microphone, however, is the
Hydrophone DolphinEAR microphone which is available from
DolphinEAR, United Kingdom (e.g., at www.dolphinear.com). This
microphone has an overall frequency response range from below about
7 Hz to above about 22,000 Hz for the spectrogram software. It can
be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the response range
can be attenuated as desired at either end of the spectrum
particularly by choice of the encasing material if any is to be
used, for example, epoxy (hard casing) will attenuate sound in the
0-50 Hz range. One advantage of the hydrophone DolphinEAR is its
versatile ability for remote monitoring (DE 500), e.g., via a
mobile telephone interface or VHF/UHF radio system or other
telemetry devices known in the art.
[0043] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 is
comprised of a microphone or transducer 2 which is embedded in a
suitable encasing material 4 such as a rubber, silicone, latex,
polyurethane, plastic or other polymer, or a gel or the like. The
microphone 2 is connected to a cable 6 which is in turn connected
to a means for connecting the microphone 2 to a recording device
(not shown). The connecting means can be a plug 8 of most any
desired configuration. As shown in FIG. 1, plug 8 can be a standard
BNC connector or male plug that is configured complimentary to the
female receptacle of the recording device (not shown).
[0044] In one embodiment, the encasing material 4 for the
microphone 2 can be a liquid latex such as is available from, e.g.,
www.liquid-latex.com. For example, the ingredients of the latex can
comprise from about 65% water about 34.7% natural Latex sap and
about 0.3% ammonia. The microphone is placed in a mold, e.g., an
aluminum mold and set at a desired level therein. The liquid latex
composition is then placed in the mold surrounding the microphone
and allowed to cure. When cured, the ammonia and water evaporate
and the latex remains.
[0045] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4, the microphone 2 is
embedded within a casing material 4 which is a polyurethane rubber
such as is available from, e.g., Smooth-On, e.g., at
www.smooth-on.com. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the rubber
casing 4 suspends the microphone 2 such that the recording surface
12 is not enclosed within rubber casing 4. Rather rubber casing 4
forms a rimmed edge 14 around the recording surface 12 of
microphone 2 creating a cavity or air space between the body of the
horse (not shown) and the microphone 2 recording surface 12 when
the device 10 is placed at the desired location on the horse's
head. The rimmed edge 14 of the encasing material (rubber casing) 4
is held in firm contact with the horses skin. The cavity created by
rimmed edge 14 can form an air space or can be filled with a
desired material, e.g., ultrasound gel, for transmission of the
respiratory sounds to the recording surface 12 of microphone 2.
[0046] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the microphone (not
shown) is embedded within a casing material 4 which is a
polyurethane rubber such as is available from, e.g., Smooth-On,
e.g., at www.smooth-on.com. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the
rubber casing 4 suspends the microphone such that the recording
surface (not shown) is not enclosed within rubber casing 4. Rather,
rubber casing 4 forms a rimmed edge 14 around the recording surface
of the microphone creating a cavity or air space which is covered
by membrane 16. When the device 10 is placed at the desired
location on the horse's head, the rimmed edge 14 of the encasing
material (rubber casing) 4 and membrane 16 are held in firm contact
with the horses skin. The cavity created by rimmed edge 14 form a
space with the recording surface 12 and the membrane 16. This space
is preferrably filled with air or it can be filled with another
desired material, e.g., ultrasound gel, for enhancement of
transmission of the respiratory sounds to the recording surface of
the microphone.
[0047] The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or
variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The
embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best
illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical
application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and
equitably entitled.
* * * * *
References